Pressure check-valve.



C. LEVQNSEN. PRESSURE CHECK VALVE. APPUCATION FILED MAR. 21, 191.

Patented Mar. 4,1919.

8% 41A) Humane FFIQ.

CLAUS LEVINSEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK;

PRESSURE CHECK-VALVE.

To all whom it mayconcem:

Be it known that I, CLAUs LEVINSEN, a citizen of the Danish Monarchy, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings .and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressure Check-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is 'to provide an improved check valve especially adapted for use in marine steam power plants in order to improve the operation thereof with respect to safety, efficiency and automatic action. Another object of my invention is to provide a check valve especially adapted for use in combination with the steam regulating valves described in my pending applications numbered serially 131,852 and 141,439 respectively. Another object of my invention is to provide a check valve adapt.- ed to be operated against a substantially constant pressure and containing certain novel features of construction and adjustability. Still another object of my invention is to provide a special air valve for use in connection with my improved check valve. Accordingly my invention comprises the combinations of parts and elements hereinafter set forth including a pressure check valve and an air valve constructed and operated in accordance with my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which-- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a marine steam power plant including my pressure check valve and air valve;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1 of the steam regulating valve with which the said valves are operated;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 4 of the pressure check valve Fig. 4 is a sidev-iew of the said valve;

Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof with parts broken away; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the air valve.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 1 designates a .marine steam engine connected in the usual manner to its condenser 2. 3 is the steam supply pipe. 4 and 5 indicate some of the auxiliary power units required for the operation of a vessel. Thus 4 may represent the generator unit for electric power and 5 may be the refrigerating machine. There are other auxiliary power units required, but I have shown two only Specification of Letters Patent.

derstanding my present invention.

said applications.

Patented Mar. 4:, 1919.

Application filed March 21, 1917. Serial No. 156,324.

as being sufiicient for the purpose of un- The number of auxiliary units, their arrangement and location are immaterial so far as this invention is concerned. The auxiliary units are supplied with steam from the boiler (not shown) through the steam pipes 6 controlled at each unit by the usual valves 7 7. The exhausts of the auxiliary units are connected by pipes 9, 9 to the steam regulating valve 10 which is connected at 11 to the condenser and at 12 to the atmosphere by way of the common exhaust 13. As described in the applications aforesaid, the

object of the steam regulating valve 10 is to connect automatically the exhausts of the auxiliary machines with either the condenser or with the atmosphere according to whether or not the mainengine 1 and condenser 2 are in operation, and for a detailed description of said valve 10 I refer to the In this instance the following description will suflice.

The regulating valve is provided with an I inlet 15 connected to the exhausts 9 as seen in Fig. 1, and with the outlets 11 and 12 aforesaid. The inlet 15 communicates with a valve chamber 16 having two ports 17 and 18, leading to the outlets 11 and 12 and controlled by valves 19 and 20. The valve 19 is fast on the valve stem 21 while the valve 20 is slidably mounted thereon. A shoulder 22 limits the upward movement of the valve 20 and serves also as a means ,to close the same. Below the .valve 10 is mounted an abutment 23 by means of bolts 24 which also supports a cylinder 25 in which moves a piston 26. fast to the valve stem 21. 27 is a spring secured to the abutment 23 and the piston 26. The cylinder 25 forms a pressure chamber below the piston, which chamber is connected to the condenser 2 by pipes 28. 28 and 70 having'a valve 29, see Fig. 1.

When the main engine 1 and the condenser 2 are in operation, the pressure in the pressure chamber within the cylinder 25 is reduced by way of pipes 28 and 70 and con-. sequently piston. 26 is moved down by atmospheric pressure, which overcomes the force of the spring 27 with the result that the valve 17 is opened and the valve 18 is closed as shown in Fig. 2.

If now one or more of the auxiliary units are operated, the exhaust steam therefrom will pass through the exhaust pipe or pipes valve chamber 16 and out through the open mosphere port 17 outlet 11 and to the condenser 2.

If, however, unit P-2 ceases to operate, the pressure in the cylinder 25 will rise until at a predetermined pressure (less than atmospheric) the spring 27 lifts the piston "26 and closes port 17"bythe"valve 19. Ifnone of the auxiliary units are in operation, both of the valves 19 and 20 will remain closed,

but if one or more of the auxiliary machines are operated, the exhaust steam therefrom will lift the valve 20 up against the shoulder 22, viihih has been moved up by the spring 27, thereby opening the port 18 through which the steam'willpasstothe atthrough outlet 12. When the main engine resumes operation,"the pressure in cylinder 25 again be reduced, the piston moves down and closes valve 20 and opens valve again pass into the condenser 2.

In each of the exhaust pipes 9 there iS connected a check valve 30. For some of the "auxiliaryo machinies an ordinary check valve may suffice, but for thegenerator unit 4; or like unit in which it is desirable that he check valve operates against a constant pressure, I prefer to use check valve-of the construction shown inFigs. 3, 4, and-5 which ill-ustratejthe preferred form of my improved present check valve.

As shown, the valve comprises a casing 31 having the inlet 32 and outlet 33 connected in the pipesQ in the usual manner. 34 indicates, the valve which controls the passageof the steain. Above the valve is provided a, -pressure chamber 35 connected by a :pipe 36 to :the :pipes 28.,and and hence to the condenser 2, see Fig. 1. The pressure'chamber'is closed with a diaphragm 37, 'carried by astem 38 which is connected by the yoke 39 to the valve stein 40'. Both of the stems nected to the yoke 39 by nuts 4:1, 41 and {1:2, 4:2 as shown. It follows thatthe stems 38 and 40 operate as practically a single valve stem.

When the main engine 1 and condenser 2 are operated, the pressure in the check valve chamber 35 is reduced by way of pipes 36, 28 and ,70 and the diaphragm 37 will be depressed under atmospheric pressure on the upper side thereof. Consequently the yoke '39 willbe pressed downward and the valve 34: will be closed under atmospheric pressure. If now one of the auxiliary units 7 commences to Work, the exhaust steam therefrom will ..-pass through [pipe 9 and valve inlet 32 into the check valve, lift the valve 34 against atmospheric pressure and thence pass into the regulating valve 10 and through the latter into the condenser as above set forth. During this operation it is obvious thatthe exhaust steam operates 19 and theexhaust steam will.

38 and 40 are adjustably con- "against atmospheric pressure only and not Rake 3'4 up, and the force of which may therefore be disregarded and only the atmosphericpressure tending to seat the valve is a factor of resistance against the passage 6f-' the-"s'tea1n through the check valve 30.

If, however, the main engine and condenser are shut "down, the exhaust steam passes through the regulating valve 101to the atmosphere as set forth, above. Consequently the pressure in chamber '35 increases until there is atmospheric pressure below the diaphragm, whereby the atmospheric pressure ontop the steam lifts thevalve 34 against the atmospheric pressure through the regulating valve 10 and common exhaust 13. or in otherwords, also when the in aine'n gine and condenser are shut down, does the exhaust steam work against atmospheric gp ressure the same as when they are "in operation.

In the ease of the generator unit rt necessary that the exhaust steam at all times thereof is neutralized andworks againstaconstant pressure to prevent racing and overloading when the pressure varies. =And it will be desirable or necessary also in the case of 0uiraua' 1iar ..powe1- units requiring similar conditions; Again, it is -obvious,that I do not intfend to limit the use of my ;pressure checkvalves to marine steam plant installations, but intend uslng it wherever a constant pressure check valve is desirable :or demanded.- Without the check valve 30 the auxiliary -'ifnits 4 and assume against "either the low .pressiire in condenser (when the latter is operated.) or against a much higherpressure n mel mospheric pressure (when the condenser "is not operated). That is to say, the auxiliary units exhaust against varying Qpressures'dependentupon whether the condenser isopfe'rated or not. In case of the generator unitfih'e lowerin" o'f'the'backipressure (rrbm atmospheri'c to condenser) will "c'ause'th'e. generator to grace and perhaps canse the insulation to burn or causeio'ther damage unless the supply steam passing into theiin-it is 'cut down. The advantage of ."employing the check valve 30 is first "and foremost that a constant back pressure is obtained forfthe auxiliary units, and this in turn may lead to the elimination of the governor on the auxiliary units, and in the case of the gasesator -uni't will prevent melting of fusible partsand other damage.

There are obvieuslyether fac torsthanthe mere differences in pressures "to be cohs'id ered, Thus thetiveiglit 'ofjtlfie yoke 39, inaccuracies in construction, difiere'iices due to the different coefiicients 'of elasticity of diaphragins of different materials and the like mustfalso be jeon'sidered. In additipn tot-he means whereby the fpositio'ns of the 38 and 40 may be adjusted with respect to the yoke to compensate for possible stiffness on the part of the diaphragm and regulating the position of the valve 34 and which has been explained, I provide means to vary the effective surface of the diaphragm in order to regulate and adjust the pressures within the valve 30.

To this end I provide a plurality ofinembers 45 adapted to slide radially in the annular portion 46 of the pressure chamber casing 47. Each slide 45, in this instance four, carries a pin 48 which moves in a groove 49 in the annular adjustinglmember 50 which is provided with an operating handle 51. When the said handle 51 is operated, the annular adjusting member or ring 50 is rotated and through the instrumentality of the grooves 49 and pins 48, the four radialslides are caused to move radially inward or outward. 52 and 53 are packings and '54 is a top ring for keeping the member 50 in position. The ring 54 is provided with a scale 55 and the handle 51 carries a pointer 56. Two of the opposed slides 57 and 58 carry each a semi-circular flexible member 59 which is adapted to lie against the inner curved ends of the other two slides 45. H

When it is desired to vary the effective surface of the diaphragm, the adjusting member 50 is rotated which causes the slides to move radially inward as set forth above and whereby the semi-circular flexible members 59 are. moved toward each other or caused to close up, so that they and the slides form a smaller circle within which the diaphragm is either depressed or raised as is obvious. By this means the effective surface of the diaphragm may be adjusted or varied as required to insure that the valve 34 is operated against a constant pressure.

In .order to obtain quick action when the main engine and condenser cease to operate, it is necessary that the pressures in the pres sure chambers in the regulating valve and the check valve be simultaneously and quickly increased or decreased as the case may be. To this end I rovide an air valve 60, see Fig. 6, connected to the pipes 28, 36 and 70, between the condenser and the said valves as seen in Fig. 1, and which pipes cOmmunicate with the said pressure chambers. The air valve comprises a casing having an air inlet 61 and two air outlets 62 and 63. The inlet is controlled by a valve 64 and the outlet 63 is controlled by a valve 65, both of said valves being fast on a valve stem 66. 67 is a spring tending to open valve 65. The airoutlet 62 communicates with the pressure chambers in the valves 30 and 10 through the pipes 28 and 36. The air outlet 63 leads vto the condenser 2 by way of the pipe 70.

The operation is as follows 7 During the operation of the main engine and condenser, the valve 65 is open by atmospherlc pressure because vacuum exists on the condenser side of the valve 64 and if the auxiliary unit is operating, the exhaust steam therefrom will pass through.

check valve 30, against atmospheric pressure as explained, pipe 9 and the regulating valve 10 into the condenser. If now the main unit ceases to operate, the pressure will increase on the condenser side of valve 64 until such pressure plus the force of spring 67 only (in pipe 9) and not lift against any pressure on the diaphragm 37. At the same time that the valve 64 is opened, valve 65 is closed and prevents further reduction of the vacuum in the condenser.

It will therefore be noted that not alone have I provided means for automatically passing the exhaust-steam from the auxiliary units to the atmosphere or to the condenser according to whether the latter is shut down or operating, but I have also provided means whereby the exhaust steam at all times operates against a constant pressure while the means 60 serves the purposes indicated.

The combination of the regulating Valve and the check valve will obviously 1ncrease the efficiency and safety of operation of the entire power plant by means which are simple in construction and automatic in action.

I claim a 1. The combination with a steam engine, a condenser therefor, a second steam engine, a passage leading from the exhaust of said second steam engine to the said condenser, means in said passage for automatically connecting the exhaust of said second engine with the said condenser, when the latter and said first named steam engine are operating, or connecting said exhaust with the atmosphere, when said first engine and condenser are not operating and a check valve in said passage for causing a constant back pressure against the admission of the exhaust steam from the said second steam engine to either the said condenser or to the atmosphere.

2. A steam power plant installation comprising a steam engine, a condenser therefor, a plurality of other steam engines,means for connecting the exhausts of the latter with the said condenser, when said first named steam engine and condenser are operating, or connecting the said exhausts with the atmosphere when said first engine and condenser are not operating, and means for causing a constant back pressure against the admission of the exhaust steam from each of said other engines to either the said condenser or to the atmosphere.

. v 8. A steam power plant installation com- ''the said condenser, when said first named steam engine and cdndenser; are operating, or connecting the said exhausts with the atrnos here when "said 'firstengine and cOndenser arenot operatingcand means for causing a c0ns'tan't'back pressure. equitL-toatmospheri'c :pressure against the admission of the exhaust "steam from each of said Other enginestp either 'the said cOndenser or to the atmosphere. V

4. The combination with a' steam *engine,=a condenser therefor, asec'ond steam engine, of a ipassage leading from the exhaust of the latter "to the said "condenser, pressure regulated means in said passage for automatican: connecting the said exhaust with the con enser, when the latter and said first named engine are operating, or cdnnecting the said exhaust with :the atmosphere when the'condenser and said first engine are not operating, means in said passage for exerting a cbnstantb'ack pres'sure'against the "ad- 'm'ission "Of the "exhaust steam to either the said condenser or to the atmosphere "and Copies of this patent may be obtained frfiveeents each, addressing the Commissioner of fat'iits,

gines to "either the said condenser 'orto. the atmosphere.

"of the day of -Marbh, A. 1191-7.

pressuregagai 'stthe, passage of the "exhaust;

steam frorn each of the sai'd other steamgen- 6. The combination with a steam .'engine andacondenseni-of a Valve cdmprisin'ga casing havinganvinlet connected to the exhaust said'engin'e and an outlet connected to thesaid cdnde'n ser, a valve controlling the cdmmunicatidnbetween said inlet and outlet,

a :pressure chamber formed in said valve casing, a diaphragmforclosing said pressure chamber, "a passage -1eading fiom the latter to the said fc'dndense'r. and a. connection between said diaphragm :and valve.

' Signed at New d in the county bf N ew York and State of New York, this third GLAUS LEVINsEN. i

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